Tinubu Seeks Confirmation Of Six INEC Commissioners

President Bola Tinubu has nominated four national commissioners and two resident electoral commissioners for the Independent National Electoral Commission to fill vacancies created by expiring tenures.

He urged the Senate to confirm the nominees quickly ahead of the general elections in January.

A statement on Friday by the Special Adviser to the President on Information and Strategy, Bayo Onanuga, said the Senate would screen all six nominees.

The new national commissioners are Prof. Mustapha Aliu (North-West), to replace Prof. Abdullahi Zuru; Bashir Umar (North-Central), to replace Prof. Muhammad Adamu; and Mrs. Oluwatoyin Babalola (South-West), to replace Prof. Cornelius Ajayi, whose tenure expires on October 24.

Babalola is currently the resident electoral commissioner in Osun State.

The two resident electoral commissioners are a retired permanent secretary, Dr. Samuel Akinjide Akinleye, who will represent Ekiti State, and Zahradden Basiru Sanusi, from Jigawa State, who will replace Prof. Saidu Ahmed Babura.

Tinubu asked the Senate to expedite the confirmation because of the elections in January, the statement said.

“President Tinubu urged the Senate to expedite the nominees’ confirmation in view of the forthcoming General elections next January,” the statement read.